Modeling Zoos and Aquariums as Inclusive Communities of Science: Developing a framework of inclusive practices for broadening the participation of autistic individuals

将动物园和水族馆建模为包容性科学社区：制定包容性实践框架，以扩大自闭症患者的参与

• 批准号: 2116026
• 负责人: Kelly Riedinger
• 金额: $ 123.12万
• 依托单位: Oregon State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2021-09-01 至 2025-08-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2116026&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Modeling; Zoos; Aquariums; Inclusive; Communities

This award is funded in whole or in part under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2).Zoos and aquariums have been offering programming, events, and visit accommodations to autistic individuals for several years. While these efforts can provide great experiences, they are focused more on accommodation and the outward-facing guest experience than inclusion. Lack of inclusion features in design, programming, and representation amongst zoo and aquarium representatives, ultimately limits full inclusion and adds to a sense in autistic individuals of not belonging and not being welcomed. To develop a fully inclusive experience for autistic individuals, this project will develop an evidence-based framework of inclusive practices for zoos and aquariums and build a community of practice around inclusion broadly. The project brings together researchers from Oregon State University, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders, and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Researchers will create and investigate the extent and ways in which a research-informed framework and associated tools (i.e. case studies, discussion guides, self-guided audits, etc.) and strategies support science learning for autistic individuals, and help practitioners expand access and inclusion of autistic audiences beyond special events or the general visit experience by applying inclusive practices for programs, exhibit development, internships, volunteer opportunities, and employment. To maximize impact, the project will develop and expand a network of early adopters to build a community of practice around inclusive practices to develop fully inclusive zoo and aquarium experiences for all individuals.The project will investigate 4 research questions: (1) In what ways and to what extent are zoos and aquariums currently addressing access and inclusion for autistic individuals? (2) How do staff in zoos and aquariums perceive their and their institution’s willingness and ability to address access and inclusion for autistic individuals? (3) What is a framework of evidence-based practices across the zoo and aquarium experience that is inclusive for autistic individuals, and what associated tools and strategies are needed to make the framework useful for early adopters? And (4) to what extent and in what ways does a research informed framework with associated tools and strategies engage, support, and enhance an existing community of practitioners already dedicated to addressing autistic audiences and promote inclusive practices at zoos and aquariums for autistic people? The project is designed as two phases: (1) the research and development of a framework of inclusive practices and tools for supporting autistic individuals and (2) expanding a network of early adopters to build a community of practice around inclusive practices and an overall strategy of implementation. The framework will be informed through a state of the field study across the zoo/aquarium field that includes a landscape study and needs assessment as well as a review of literature that synthesizes existing research across disciplines for developing inclusive practices for autistic individuals in zoos and aquariums. The team will also conduct online surveys and focus groups to gather input from various stakeholders including zoo and aquarium employees and practitioners, autistic individuals, and their social groups (e.g., family members, peers, advocacy organizations). The second phase of the study will focus on sharing the framework and tools with practitioners across the zoo/aquarium field for feedback and reflection to develop an overall strategy for broader implementation and expanding the existing network of zoo and aquarium professionals to build a community of practice dedicated to the comprehensive inclusion of autistic individuals across the full zoo and aquarium experience. The results will be disseminated through conference presentations, scholarly publications, online discussion forums, and collaborative partners’ websites. The project represents one of the first of its kind on autistic audiences within the zoo and aquarium context and is the first to look at the full experience of autistic patrons to zoos and aquariums across programs/events, exhibits, volunteering, internship, and employment opportunities. A process evaluation conducted as part of the project will explore how the approach taken in this project may be more broadly applied in understanding and advancing inclusion for other audiences historically underserved or marginalized by zoos and aquariums.This Research in Service to Practice project is supported by the Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program, which seeks to (a) advance new approaches to and evidence-based understanding of the design and development of STEM learning in informal environments; (b) provide multiple pathways for broadening access to and engagement in STEM learning experiences; (c) advance innovative research on and assessment of STEM learning in informal environments; and (d) engage the public of all ages in learning STEM in informal environments. informal environments.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

该奖项全部或部分由2021年美国救援计划法案（公法117-2）资助。动物园和水族馆多年来一直为自闭症患者提供节目，活动和参观住宿。虽然这些努力可以提供很好的体验，但它们更多地关注住宿和面向外部的客人体验，而不是包容性。在设计、编程和动物园和水族馆代表之间缺乏包容性，最终限制了完全包容，并增加了自闭症患者不属于和不受欢迎的感觉。 为了为自闭症患者提供全面的包容性体验，该项目将为动物园和水族馆制定一个基于证据的包容性实践框架，并围绕广泛的包容性建立一个实践社区。该项目汇集了来自俄勒冈州州立大学、范德比尔特肯尼迪中心自闭症谱系障碍治疗和研究所以及动物园和水族馆协会的研究人员。研究人员将创建和调查研究知情的框架和相关工具（即案例研究，讨论指南，自我指导审计等）的程度和方式。和战略支持自闭症个体的科学学习，并帮助从业者扩大访问和自闭症观众超越特殊事件或一般的访问经验，通过应用程序，展览开发，实习，志愿者机会和就业的包容性做法。为了最大限度地发挥影响力，该项目将发展和扩大一个早期采用者网络，围绕包容性实践建立一个实践社区，为所有人发展完全包容的动物园和水族馆体验。该项目将调查4个研究问题：（1）动物园和水族馆目前以何种方式和在何种程度上解决自闭症个体的访问和包容问题？(2)动物园和水族馆的工作人员如何看待他们和他们的机构的意愿和能力，以解决自闭症患者的访问和包容？(3)在动物园和水族馆体验中，什么是一个对自闭症患者具有包容性的循证实践框架？需要哪些相关工具和策略来使该框架对早期采用者有用？和（4）在何种程度上和以何种方式研究知情的框架与相关的工具和策略参与，支持，并加强现有的从业者社区已经致力于解决自闭症观众和促进自闭症患者在动物园和水族馆的包容性做法？该项目分为两个阶段：（1）研究和开发一个支持自闭症患者的包容性做法和工具框架;（2）扩大早期采用者网络，以建立一个围绕包容性做法和总体实施战略的实践社区。该框架将通过整个动物园/水族馆领域的实地研究状态，包括景观研究和需求评估，以及文献综述，综合跨学科的现有研究，为动物园和水族馆的自闭症患者制定包容性做法。该团队还将进行在线调查和焦点小组，以收集包括动物园和水族馆员工和从业人员、自闭症患者及其社会团体（例如，家庭成员、同龄人、倡导组织）。该研究的第二阶段将侧重于与整个动物园/水族馆领域的从业者分享框架和工具，以获得反馈和反思，从而制定更广泛实施的总体战略，并扩大动物园和水族馆专业人员的现有网络，以建立一个致力于全面包容自闭症个体的实践社区。研究结果将通过会议报告、学术出版物、在线论坛和合作伙伴网站传播。该项目代表了动物园和水族馆范围内自闭症观众的第一个同类项目之一，也是第一个关注自闭症顾客在动物园和水族馆的完整体验的项目/活动，展览，志愿服务，实习和就业机会。作为项目的一部分进行的过程评估将探讨如何在这个项目中采取的方法可以更广泛地应用于理解和推进包容其他观众历史上服务不足或边缘化的动物园和水族馆。这个服务于实践的研究项目是由推进非正式STEM学习（AISL）计划，其目的是：（a）推进在非正式环境中设计和开发STEM学习的新方法和基于证据的理解;（B）为扩大STEM学习经验的获取和参与提供多种途径;（c）推进非正规环境中STEM学习的创新研究和评估;以及（d）让所有年龄段的公众参与非正规环境中的STEM学习。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。